We Are Filthy, Born From Mud - Chapter 17

Chapter 17: Yes, Her Help Made Things Worse.

Zong Yougu utterly failed at taking care of the sick.

Simply put, under Zong Yougu’s careful attention, Zong Liangu recovered very slowly.

Zong Yougu certainly wasn’t deliberately seeking revenge on Zong Liangu. Zong Yougu was looking after her with great diligence and detail.

She just lacked common sense.

Zong Liangu was kept covered for two nights, soaking the bedding with sweat, but her body temperature remained stubbornly high.

Zong Yougu finally realized something was wrong. She took out her phone and checked.

It was only then that she discovered that sweating was useless for a fever and could even worsen the condition.

She was startled and immediately yanked the blanket off Zong Liangu.

The sudden hot-and-cold change caused Zong Liangu to sneeze several times. The temperature that had just begun to drop spiked again, and she became even sicker.

Zong Yougu belatedly covered Zong Liangu with one blanket.

Zong Yougu then remembered that being sick required taking medicine.

She was too lazy to go out, so she ordered medicine delivered via her phone.

She carefully studied the instructions for each medicine, memorizing the side effects and dosage.

Then, she confidently mixed several types of medicine and fed them to Zong Liangu.

Unsurprisingly, Zong Liangu’s condition worsened again.

That night, she not only had a fever but also experienced vomiting.

There was no choice but to go to the hospital.

Since she and Zong Liangu were the same person, using her medical record book should be fine.

However, she hadn’t been to the hospital in so long that the record book was tossed into some unknown corner.

She rummaged loudly through drawers and cabinets. By the time she found the medical record book, Zong Liangu had been woken up by the noise.

Zong Liangu seemed very resistant to the hospital and refused to go no matter what.

So, Zong Yougu had to give up.

Fine, if she wants to burn up, let her burn up. It’s not my discomfort anyway.

Zong Yougu shrugged.

Of course, Zong Yougu looking after Zong Liangu wasn’t because she was particularly kind.

It was just that she was bored.

The same night she discovered Zong Liangu’s fever, she took a photo of the thermometer and sent it to Qi Fang, successfully taking sick leave for herself.

She didn’t like going out, nor did she like working.

Sitting at home alone was still sitting, so she might as well take care of Zong Liangu.

Although the results weren’t great, and she seemed to cause more trouble than help.

But her intentions were good.

If Zong Liangu didn’t thank her after recovering, Zong Liangu would truly be ungrateful.

“Am I going to die?” Zong Liangu suddenly grabbed Zong Yougu’s wrist, preventing her from leaving.

“Yes,” Zong Yougu replied casually.

During her sickness, Zong Liangu had asked Zong Yougu countless times if she was going to die.

Initially, Zong Yougu would patiently explain that a fever was a minor illness and, apart from the discomfort, was not a major problem.

Now, clearly, Zong Yougu had run out of patience.

“Well, congratulations then,” Zong Liangu said weakly.

“Alright, go to sleep,” Zong Yougu said.

Zong Yougu was actually curious about the cause of Zong Liangu’s sickness.

She hadn’t been exposed to cold or wind, so how did she get sick?

She searched online. An online doctor told her that excessive worrying could also cause fever symptoms.

Excessive worrying? Zong Yougu curled her lip.

She really didn’t know what Zong Liangu worried about all day.

She, Zong Yougu, was the one being threatened, not Zong Liangu.

Zong Yougu hadn’t gotten sick, so how could Zong Liangu?

Next time, I should also get sick so Zong Liangu can take care of me, Zong Yougu thought to herself.

During Zong Liangu’s sickness, The Rumor also premiered.

It updated one episode every Wednesday.

Today was the day the second episode was released.

Zong Yougu was bored, so she turned on the television.

The Rumor used a series of standalone cases, with a main storyline connecting each one.

Zong Yougu played the villain in the main storyline.

Her screen time was mostly concentrated in the second half of the story, so Zong Yougu was barely seen in the first few episodes.

No matter how long she had been acting, she couldn’t help but feel excited whenever she saw herself on screen.

Only this time, besides the anticipation of seeing herself, she was also looking forward to seeing Zong Liangu.

Judging by the reactions of the director, Hu Yinghua, and Zong Liangu herself, Zong Liangu must have performed that last scene very well.

It was a scene she was completely dissatisfied with herself. What exactly did Zong Liangu do?

Her phone suddenly rang. It was Hu Yinghua.

“Sister Yougu, the The Rumor fan meet-and-greet is next Wednesday afternoon. Did you know about this?”

Zong Yougu thought back carefully. The director had mentioned it during filming.

“Yes, I know.”

“Oh, that’s good. The thing is, the director just informed us that the celebration banquet is scheduled after the fan meeting. The banquet will be at Jiudun Hotel.”

“That good?”

Zong Yougu was surprised. Jiudun Hotel was quite expensive due to its long history and specialty dishes.

“Yes, yes. I heard the stage manager say the director is very happy and wants everyone to have a good meal.”

Hu Yinghua still hadn’t hung up the phone.

Zong Yougu understood immediately. She said, “I’ll secretly pack you a doggy bag.”

“Thanks, Sis!”

Zong Yougu didn’t waste any more time and hung up the phone.

She nudged Zong Liangu, who remained motionless.

Zong Yougu smiled. She didn’t plan to tell Zong Liangu about this news.

Of course, Zong Liangu might find out through various channels after waking up, but what if no one reminded her?

Then, the opportunity would fall to Zong Yougu.

The commercials on the TV soon ended. The opening theme of The Rumor echoed in the room.

Zong Yougu stared intently at the opening credits, searching for herself in every corner.

Every fleeting shot of herself satisfied her.

She was very happy.

“You’re so annoying,” Zong Liangu propped herself up.

“You’re awake?”

Zong Liangu stared at her, her eyes showing irritation: “The TV volume is so loud, and you keep moving around. It’s hard not to wake up.”

Zong Yougu chuckled softly twice.

“You didn’t go to work?” Zong Liangu was surprised.

Zong Yougu exaggeratedly frowned. She said, “No, it’s all because I had to take care of you. But don’t worry, I took leave. I still have several days of annual leave I can take, which you can use later too.”

Zong Liangu reached out and pressed Zong Yougu’s forehead. She said, “Lazy. I am more suited for your identity.”

Zong Yougu wasn’t angry. She smiled and slapped Zong Liangu’s hand away.

“Yes, you’re hardworking. Why don’t you drag your sick body to work? Besides, you just sit there stupidly anyway. Why bother going?”

Zong Liangu’s head was still spinning. She burrowed back under the blanket.

“I really wish you’d stay sick,” Zong Yougu pulled away Zong Liangu’s pillow, preventing her from lying down comfortably.

“Because then I won’t threaten you?”

“Not that.”

Zong Yougu rolled onto the bed too, her eyes darting around: “When you’re sick, you have a childish cuteness that I really like. I even recorded it when you were muttering and asking if you were going to die.”

“Sick,” Zong Liangu said.

Zong Liangu used her elbow as a pillow and lay back down.

“Do you know? You can actually die from a fever,” Zong Liangu’s voice was muffled.

“Huh? Who died?” Zong Yougu asked casually.

“Someone you know.”

Zong Yougu pointed to herself: “Me? How would I know someone from your side?”

“It’s Su Tongguo.”

Zong Yougu’s heart skipped a beat.

“I knew her very early on. I was adopted at 14. My ‘mother’ arranged for me to attend a local middle school. That’s when I met Su Tongguo.”

Zong Yougu nodded. Zong Liangu’s experience was almost identical to hers. Adopted at 14, started studying like a regular person, and then met Su Tongguo.

Zong Yougu simply listened calmly.

She was too busy with her own life to be easily moved by others’ stories. She asked, “And then?”

“And then? Let me think how to put it. You should know that Su Tongguo’s family was well-off. Her mothers ran some businesses. They were busy and couldn’t take care of her.nSu Tongguo still came to school the day she had a fever. She said it was boring at home and wanted to come to school to play with me. Lack of rest, plus being exposed to the wind, made her symptoms very severe. She didn’t come to school for several days, and then I received news of her death. It was said that the live-in housekeeper neglected her and didn’t take good care of her. She just… died inexplicably.”

Zong Yougu nodded. She said, “So you’re afraid the same will happen to you?”

“No,” Zong Liangu propped up her upper body, staring intently at Zong Yougu, “I’m afraid I’ll go back.”

Zong Yougu got goosebumps. She pretended to be calm: “Well, it’s not like this place is much better anyway.”

“Ignorance is bliss,” Zong Liangu sneered.

Perhaps because of her illness, Zong Yougu felt Zong Liangu was easier to talk to today, and more sentimental than usual.

Zong Yougu’s eyes darted around again. She smiled and spoke:

“Do you remember Zhang Yinyang? How is she?”

Zong Liangu seemed reluctant to talk about her. She said, “Why ask about her?”

Zong Yougu rubbed Zong Liangu in a slightly unreasonable way. She said, “Well, you brought up Su Tongguo! That immediately sparked my memories. I want to know what the people I knew are like on your side.”

“She became a police officer.”

“Doing that well, huh?”

Zong Yougu’s eyes dimmed.

Because the Zhang Yinyang in this world was having a terrible life: she lost a leg, had no skills, and was sitting by the assembly line, destined to deal with electronic parts for the rest of her life.

It seemed Zong Yougu was responsible for all this, and even now, she hadn’t reined herself in.

“Hey? But aren’t you an assassin?” Zong Yougu forced a smile.

“Yes,” Zong Liangu’s voice was nonchalant, “I died before she found out the truth.”

“I see.” Zong Yougu pursed her lips.

Zong Yougu looked up and saw that the TV show was halfway through, with more uninteresting commercials playing.

“It’s all your fault. I missed the show.”

Zong Liangu was somewhat helpless: “Oh please. You’re not in these two episodes. You wouldn’t have watched seriously anyway.”

Zong Yougu pouted: “True.”

A few more days passed before Zong Liangu fully recovered.

When Zong Liangu woke up this day, she felt refreshed and full of energy again.

She walked to the window, pulled back the curtain, and the bright daylight shone on her. Every part of her felt warm.

She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

She was alive. She was still alive.

Zong Yougu entered from outside, holding two egg pancakes. She handed one to Zong Liangu.

“Try it? I’m very good at making these.”

“Me too.” Zong Liangu accepted it unceremoniously.

She took a bite. The aroma of egg mixed with oil spread in her mouth.

She used to make these often when she was little.

She chewed on a bit of coarse salt. She frowned and smiled: “It’s too salty. This is what you call good at it?”

Zong Yougu nodded with a smirk.

Zong Liangu could barely eat anything during the days she was sick. Now that she had recovered, her appetite was huge.

She finished the entire egg pancake in just a few bites.

However, as she chewed, a strange taste spread in her mouth.

She gradually lost consciousness. Before fainting, she saw Zong Yougu’s smug face.

“Oh dear, go back to sleep. I put in a dose fit for a pig. Don’t fight it.”

Zong Yougu scurried out the door.